Drumboe Martyrs centenary to be marked twice in 2023

The 100th anniversary of the execution of the Drumboe Martyrs is to be celebrated twice next year.

On March 14, 1923, just six weeks before the end of the Civil War, four anti-Treaty Republicans were executed by a Free State firing squad in Drumboe, Stranorlar. They were: Charles Daly (26), Knockane, Firies Co Kerry; Daniel Enwright (23), Patrick Street, Listowel, Co Kerry; Timothy O'Sullivan (23), Patrick Street, Listowel, Co Kerry and Sean Larkin (26), Ballagherty, Magherfelt, Co Derry.

They were marched from their cell at Drumboe Castle to an improvised firing range about 300 yards up a gently sloping field. You can still see the spot today thanks to the erection of a limestone Celtic high cross-style monument back in 1955.

Now it appears the 100th anniversary of the event will be marked twice in 2023

The idea for an official commemoration first arose back in July when the then newly appointed cathaoirleach of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District, Cllr Patrick McGowan proposed that Donegal County Council put plans in motion to organise a commemorative event to mark the centenary saying it was important to acknowledge the past and learn from it. This was unanimously backed by his council colleagues.

At their meeting last month members received an update to say preparations for the all-inclusive event were at an advanced stage.

This week news of a second commemorative event has come to light. It is being organised by a group called the Drumboe 100th Anniversary Committee which is the same committee that is in charge of the annual Drumboe commemorations in Stranorlar every Easter Sunday.

This group has released details of its plans for the occasion. They intended to hold a cultural event in the west of the county to remember the martyrs who were initially arrested in Dunlewey. There will also be a commemorative badge issued early in the New Year. The committee will also be publishing a pictorial history of the Drumboe Commemorations from 1924 to 2022. 

On the weekend before the anniversary on Saturday, March 11, The Drumboe 100th Anniversary Group will hold a Spring School in Ballybofey to remember and commemorate those four men and the Civil War, entitled: The Woods of Drumboe, The Past, the Present, and What is to Come. 

The theme will be based on the legacy of the Drumboe Martyrs and the Civil War that followed and 100 years on what effect it had on Ireland, culturally, politically, and in a societal sense.

The Spring School will also discuss the consequences and possibilities of that turbulent time in Ireland today. Noted academics and historians will be in attendance on the day including Dr Breándan Mac Suibhne from University College Galway who will be outlining the story of the Drumboe Martyrs. The keynote speaker will be Professor Brendan O’Leary from the University of Pennsylvania, who has just published the book Making Sense of A United Ireland. 

The cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council has also been invited to officially open the event, as have cathaoirligh from Kerry County Council and Mid Ulster County Council representing the two municipal districts that the four young men were from. 

The organisers also plan to make sure the 2023 Easter Sunday commemoration on April 9 a bigger event than usual. 

Other events will also be organised to commemorate the 100th anniversary including a dinner dance to be held in Jackson's Hotel on Friday, April 28.

They have also appealed to the public who might have memorabilia that would be of interest to the committee to get in touch with chairperson of the Drumboe  100th Anniversary Committee, Maria Doherty e-mail: miadoherty@gmail.com or by phone:(086) 8256432.